Potatoes
Potatoes like acidic (pH 4.8 to 6.5) because it prevents a disease called scab. Don’t add lime to theas it will promote scabs on your potatoes. Planting is done as soon thecan be worked in the spring. There are several ways to start potatoes:
- Cut the eyes out of a potato and let it dry 2 to 4 hours before planting it in the
- OR Take cuttings leaving the eyes in. Each eye should have a piece of potato the size of a small egg attached to it which will increase the size of your potatoes. Let it dry 2 to 4 hours before planting it in the .
- OR Pre-sprout a potato in a bright but not directly sunny spot for a few weeks. In the 1st week of June cut off a chunk of potato the size of a small egg with a sprout or eye on it. Place cuttings on the12" apart (30 cm) and let them dry for an hour or 2. Then cover them with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of straw or hay.
After you sprout your spuds plant them 3 inches deep (8 cm) and 6 to 12 inches apart (15 to 30 cm). Add a thin layer of mulch and keep them watered. When the shoots and leaves eventually poke through the mulch add another 6" (15 cm) of mulch around the plants without covering the leaves. You can peek underneath the mulch to watch the tubers develope and make sure they aren’t turning green which is a signal to add more mulch. When plants reach 9 inches high (15 cm) hill the potatoes with another 3 to 6" (8 to 16 cm) of , hay or straw. Mulching will keep the potatoes from turning green. Green spuds produce an alkaloid poison. Watch for potato bugs while they are growing and treat them if necessary. In September, carefully dig up your potatoes or pull the mulch back to expose the tubers. Brush off any loose dirt, let them dry off and store them in a  , dry place.
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